Council Highlights - February 12, 2024

Committee of Whole and Council meetings occur on the second and fourth Monday of each month, except for holidays.  Committee of Whole is a body consisting of all Council members that recommends an item to Council for approval, typically at the next Council meeting held two weeks later.  

Visit www.SaugeenShores.ca/Meetings to see all meeting dates, agendas, minutes and webcasts. 

Members of the public can watch Committee of Whole and Regular Council Meetings in person or on the Town’s YouTube Channel. 

Committee of the Whole Meeting 

Town of Saugeen Shores 2023 Annual Report 

This report is a year-end summary of the Town’s achievements as measured against the goals set out in the 2023 Business Plan.  It shows the Major Initiatives, Division Highlights, and Capital Highlights that the Town accomplished and fulfilled, as well as those projects carried over into the new year. The Annual Report also shows the baseline numbers for Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that were laid out in the Business Plan. 

This was recommended to be received for information. 

ROMA 2024 Delegation Briefs 

Mayor Luke Charbonneau – along with Saugeen Ward Councillor Dave Myette, Chief Administrative Officer Kara Van Myall, and Manager of Strategic Initiatives Jill Roote – attended the 2024 Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) conference.  The group spoke with ministry representatives and other municipal leaders on issues that matter to the Town’s residents and businesses.  The briefs outline the specific asks and supporting background information.  

The Committee directed staff to prepare a motion for consideration, based off a resolution from the Township of Clearview that was amended to meet the needs of the Town of Saugeen Shores and the Pioneer Cemetery. 

This report was recommended to be received for information. 

Pioneer Cemetery Geotechnical Recommendations 

The Southampton Pioneer Cemetery slope is eroding along the Saugeen River, exposing settler graves, and causing them to fall down the bank. The Town has completed archaeological and geotechnical reports that can guide how to exhume and relocate the grave sites safely and appropriately. 

This was recommended for approval.  

Open Burning By-law Review & Recommendation Report 

The purpose of this report is to replace the current Open-Air Burning By-law 30-2000 adopted on April 17, 2000. The update will add clarifying language, reduce ambiguity, modernize the permitting method, and consider the effects of global warming on the community specific to open-air burning. 

This was recommended for approval. 

Fire Services 2023 Annual Report 

This report outlined the Saugeen Shores Fire Services’ work and response types including Emergency Planning in 2023.  The service experienced a 14.4% decrease in call volume with:

• 40 alarm activations,
• 22 carbon monoxide calls,
• 56 medicals, and
• 20 motor vehicle collisions.

There were also eight (8) structure fires in 2023 -- resulting in a loss of $1,186,000 -- and eight (8) water rescue responses. This report also presented the 2024 work program that highlights the formation of the Fire Services Department Master Plan and the development of a Public Education and Fire Prevention By-law for Council’s consideration. 

This was recommended to be received for information. 

Master Drainage Plan 

GM BluePlan Engineering Limited prepared a Master Drainage Plan for the Town to help plan projects with a comprehensive drainage strategy. This system-wide approach provides a strategic assessment of options to better address the Town’s drainage system and potential impacts/mitigation. The Plan also identifies potential projects with suggested timelines and cost estimates. 

This was recommended to be received for information. 

SVCA Erosion Inspection & Maintenance Release Agreements 

Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority (SVCA) has provided inspection and maintenance services to three locations within the municipality’s jurisdiction, subject to agreements that expired on December 31, 2023.  This report provided background information and recommendations for next steps. 

This was recommended for approval. 

To learn more, view the Committee of Whole meeting agenda.  

Regular Council Meeting 

Closed to the Public 

Council held a Closed-to-public meeting to: 

Committee of the Whole Report 

The Committee recommended the following:

1) Council Renumeration & Asset Management Policy

  a) i) That Council adopt a By-law endorsing the recommendations contained within the report provided by Gallagher Benefit Services Group Inc. with base remuneration Option 1 effective January 1, 2024; and 

     ii) That Council amend the Non-Union Salary Administration Policy to align the non-union staff external market review period to every four years starting in 2026 and adopt an amending By-law; and

     iii) That staff be directed to prepare a Council Remuneration and Expense Policy for Council’s consideration and report back to Council on options to advance the Policy as expeditiously as possible. 

  b) That Council approve the revised Asset Management Policy. 

 2) Road Safety Emergency Resolution

 3) Occupational Health & Safety Act to Clarify the Definition of Employer Resolution

These were carried. 

To learn more, view the Council meeting agenda.